Cutting and embossing device for biscuit machines



April 4, 1939. A ALLTIMES 2,153,067

CUTTlNG AND EMBOSSING DEVICE FOR BISCUIT MACHINES Filed April 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CUTTING AND! EMBOSSING DEVICE FOR BISCUIT MACHINES Alfred Alltimes, Medford, Mass.

l Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,005

7 Claims. (01. 107-26) My invention relates to machines for cutting the accompanying specification and claims and and embossing sheet dough, and particularly to in the drawings forming a part thereof.

devices attachable to the crossheads of such ma- To accomplish these objects, I combine the chines which are adapted to emboss and cut a embossing element and the cutting element in variety of forms and designs from a sheet of manner hereinafter described. dough moving through the machine. These are mounted in plurality in a unit which In my U. S. Patent Number 1,650,682, issued is applicable to existing cutting or embossing November 29, 1927, I disclosed and claimed feamachines for dough sheets, replacing other detures in a device of this character in which the vices which are attached to the crosshead of the dough sheet was embossed by a plurality of emparticular machine. 10 bossing elements, and the embossed areas out My invention consists in the novel combination from the sheet in the succeeding cycle of moveof embossing and cutting elements, and their conment of the machine, the dough sheet being adstruction and operation, together with other feavanced to a position in which the cutting eletures will appear in the specification and drawments would function, the embossing elements lugs. simultaneously embossing new areas for cutting In the drawings, in the succeeding cycle. Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a preferred emvvhile thi device produced a, finished product, bodiment of my invention, as attached to the I found it necessary to adjust the device on the crosshead of a biscuit embossing or cutting macrosshead of the machine in accurate relation to chine. the line of travel of the dough sheet. Fi 2 is n enlarged cross section of my device,

If this was not done and the cutting elements substantially on the line 2-2 Fig. 4, showing the and embossing elements were not in alignment device in the cutting and embossing position of with the line of travel of the sheet, the contours the parts. ofthe cut sections were not symmetrical with the Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section substantially on previous embossing. As there are a plurality of the line 33 Fig. 4, of my device, showing a porboth embossing and cutting elements operating tion in relation to the apron and one side frame at each cycle of the machine, the appearance of of the machine.

these biscuit detracted from the commercial value Fig. 4 is a corresponding plan in which the of a high grade product if allowed to mix with crosshead of the machine is omitted. perfect goods, Referring to the drawings, the crosshead of In my present invention, in addition to other the machine, I0, is reciprocated to and from the improvements, I have overcome this difiiculty, apron I2, the ends being guided in the standards and the device may be attached to the crosshead ll of the machine frame. Means for such reof the machine with facility and with ordinary ciprocation are indicated by the pitmans I3, care, and a uniform product will result, with the Fig, 1, embossed surface of each biscuit symmetrical The device is secured to the crosshead Ill by with the respective contour. bolts l4 passing through the crosshead and en- One object of my present invention is to progaging slots [5, in the arches l6 forming a part vide an attachment attachable to the crosshead of t d i Th r h project upwardly of a biscuit cutting or emboss machine, by from the device, adjacent to each end, and a means of which a Sheet of dough may be embossed similar arch l1 without'necessarily an attaching and the embossed areas cut in the same cycle of bolt rojects ardly midway between and operation of the machine. Serves a a t u n A second object is to provide a device of this the a t by e gagug the under Side of character which may be attached to the cross head of the machine with facility and produce d i Whole: bndges the Sheet Q goods in which the embossed surfaces are symj 1 moves ovel the apron and 1S metrical with the contour of the cut product, limited nits downward movement, by abutments and the embossing is uniform in character and I8, proiectlng from the side frames of the maappearance with any predetermined thickness of chine the stripper plate engaging t erewith dough thi predetermined 1 t leaving ample space for the dough to move over A further object is to utilize the embossing head e pr as a stripper for the respective cut section. The several arches are secured to a base plate Other objects and advantages will appear in 20, to the under side of which are secured a pluing'52.

rality of cutting elements 2|, slidable through the stripper plate IS.

The base plate is yieldingly supported in predetermined parallel relation to the stripper plate, on springs 26, socketed in bosses 2! formed integral with the base plate, the arches l6 being secured to the respective upper surfaces thereof. These springs react on the stripper plate l9 to retain the base plate in withdrawn position from the stripper plate 19. Projecting upwardly from the stripper plate 19 are pairs of posts 30, each pair being connected by a plate 28. These plates are adapted to engage shelves 3! formed at opposite ends of the follower plate 25. When the device is in raised position this plate bears on the base plate 20, and the action of the springs 26 presses the two plates upwardly against the under sides of the plates 28. The follower plate is however independently movable relative to the base plate, and is of itself yieldingly pressed upwardly against the plates 28 as follows: Projecting upwardly from the stripper plate are studs 38 to the upper end of which are secured the plates 37. These studs are arranged adjacent to the arches I6 on each side of the base and stripper plates. Projecting upwardly from the follower plate 25, and slidable in the plates 31, are studs 35 which function as arbors for the springs 39 bearing. on the plates 3'? and reacting on the adjustment nuts 46 by means of which the tension may be regulated, check nuts 31 securing them in adjusted position. By this means the follower plate is yieldingly pressed upward against the plates 28.

As the action of the springs 26 is on the base plate upwardly, the upward movement of both baseand follower plates is limited by the same members, the plates 28.

Rigid with the follower plate and slidable within respective cutting elements 24, are embossing elements 35, and it will be obvious that as the base plate is directly actuated from the cross head of the machine, and the follower plate yieldingly retained against the under sides of the plates 28, that there will be a relative axial movement of the cutting and embossing elements when the machine is operated to engage the stripper plate with the abutments t3, the springs 25 being compressed as the base plate carrying the cutting elements continues its movement to cut the dough sheet, and the follower plate being retained against the plates 28, supported from the stripper plate. Under these conditions without other actuating means, the embossing elements would not function, and I provide means whereby any thickness of dough within the capacity of the machine may be embossed and the cut section stripped from the cutter elements by the action of the respective embossing elements.

I have shown and will now describe one means for accomplishing the above object. Secured to the follower plate adjacent to the arches F6 are the arches 45, extending upwardly toward but not engaging the crosshead, clearing the crosshead by a distance in excess of the maximum variation in thickness of dough provided for. Movably mounted in each arch is a plate d6, integral with which is the stud ti, extending downwardly into the arch, the stud loosely fitting the opening i8 therein.

The stud is threaded to engage a correspondingly threaded hand wheel 59 rotatable inan opening through the arch d5, hubs 52 of the wheel bearing on opposite sides 53, 5-2 of the open- The hand wheel 56 is rotated to raise or lower. the plate 36 throughits action onthe stud 41, varying the distance 56 through which the crosshead will move before engagement therewith, the base plate and cutting elements advancing beyond the embossing elements by this adjusted difference, and determining the depth of the embossing on the dough sheet. The set screw 51 engaging the periphery of the hand wheel, retains the parts in adjusted position. It will thus be evident that if the plates 46 are adjusted upwardly, the relative difference in movement of the cutting and embossing elements will be reduced and a thin biscuit is embossed as may be required, and by widening the space 56 by adjusting the plates 46 downwardly, a thicker sheet may be embossed to the same depth or greater or less depth. The operation of the device is as follows: The device being attached to the crosshead and operation started, the crosshead descends carrying the device, and when the stripper Plate l9 engages the bosses l8, the cutting elements are moved downwardly compressing the springs 26, the embossing elements secured to the follower plate 25, remaining at rest, yieldingly retained against the plates 28, until the crosshead engages the plates 46, adjusted to emboss the particular dough sheet. The cutting elements and the embossing elements now move downward to out. and emboss in one operation.

As the crosshead rises, the reverse action takes place, and the embossing surface which is set to the level of the cutter edges when in withdrawn position, operates to strip the cut section from the cutter elements, and the stripper plate operates in like manner to strip the scrap and advancing dough sheet. I do not confine myself to the disclosures in the embodiment of my invention described and illustrated, as modifications may be made in the construction and operation within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cutting and embossing device having supporting means attachable to the crosshead of a biscuit machine, a plurality of cutting elements secured thereto, and embossing elements mounted therein and relatively movable in alignment therewith, means engageable with the crosshead for operating the embossing elements relative to the cutting elements to emboss and cut a sheet of dough simultaneously; and to strip the cut sections from the cutting elements.

2. In a cutting and embossing device of the character described in claim 1, means engageable with the crosshead for varying the relative movement of the embossing and cutting elements.

3. In a cutting and embossing device of the character described in claim 1, means engageable with the crosshead for adjusting the movement of the embossing elements relative to the cutting elements, to cut and emboss uniformly, sections from dough sheets of different thicknesses.

4. In a cutting and embossing device having a base plate, cutting elements secured thereto, means for securing the plate to the crosshead of a biscuit machine, a follower plate yieldingly supported relative to the base plate, embossing elements secured thereto and relatively movable in alignment within respective cutter elements, and a stripper plate in parallel and yielding relation to the base plate, and through which the cutter elements are movable, means for limiting the relative movement of the embossing and cutting elements, means mounted on the follower plate for adjusting said movement to out and emboss uniformly sections from different thicknesses of dough sheets.

5. In a cutting and embossing device of the character described in claim 4, the adjusting means including supports rigid with the follower plate; members movably mounted therein and adapted to be engaged by the crosshead and thereafter moved in unison with the base plate, and means for adjusting the members toward and from the crosshead to vary the amplitude of the relative movement of the follower and base plates and respective cutters and embossing elements.

6. In a cutting and embossing device of the character described in claim 4, the adjusting means including supports rigid with the follower plate; plate elements movably mounted in respective supports; a threaded stud integral with each plate and axially movable in the support; an element threaded to engage each stud and bearing in the support and rotatable to move the respective plate toward and from the crosshead to engage therewith and move the follower plate and embossing elements in determined relation to the cutting movement of the base plate and respective cutter elements.

'7. In a cutting and embossing device of the character described in claim 4, the means for limiting the relative movement of the cutter and embossing elements including elements sup-' ported in fixed relation to the stripper plate, and adapted to engage the follower plate; supports rigid with the stripper plate and overhanging the follower plate; studs slidable in said supports and rigid with the follower plate; springs arbored on the studs and bearing on the supports and reacting on elements threaded to engage the studs to retain the follower plates and embossing elements yieldingly in raised position; springs reacting on the base and stripper plates whereby they are pressed apart as the crosshead rises, and the follower plate engaged with the base plate, the cutter and respective embossing elements being relatively operated to strip the out sections and scrap dough from the cutter elements.

ALFRED ALLTIMES. 

